Times Like These

———————BRIAN POV————-

After we ate, Johnny broke out the liquor. He and Nikki have become drinking buddies, and the pair were thick as thieves. They were currently sitting around a small patio table with Erin and Zack, playing Never Have I Ever. I was sitting with Matt and Arin, watching my girlfriend closely. “How’s she holding up today?” Matt asked, taking a swig of his beer. I looked over at my friend and shrugged, “She kind of had a thought morning, especially when Aaron dropped Zeus off. She told me seeing her brother’s best friend was like a punch in the gut. How’s Dani?” Matt sighed and looked over at his girlfriend, who was talking with Lacey and Kim about who knows what, “She was a wreck before we got here. She was cleaning up and knocked a picture of the three of them off a shelf and shattered the frame while I was in the shower. When I made it downstairs she was holding the picture and sobbing. I hate when she cries. I feel so helpless.” I nodded and looked over at Matt, “I get it. Breaks your heart. I try my hardest to make sure she’s always happy. I can’t stand to see her hurting.” “Tell me again why neither one of you are marrying these girls yet? Because you both sound like you’re so fucking in love with them you can’t see straight. Which isn’t a bad thing.” Arin joked, “I’m the same way with Kim. Trust me.” I looked over at Matt, who raised his brows and laughed. “Let’s just say the right moment hasn’t presented itself yet.” Our leader said before taking a drink of his beer. I chuckled to myself and took a swig of my own beer, eyes landing on my girlfriend, who cause my gaze and gave me a smile that would have made me weak in the knees if I had been standing.

About an an hour or so later, Nikki had declared that Johnny’s game was “fucking boring bullshit” and got up to go clean the kitchen area. “You know you don’t have to clean right now, we can do it later babe.” I said, walking over and leaning against the counter. My girlfriend looked up at me with a sparkle in her bright blue eyes, “No we won’t, and you know that just as well as I do.” She laughed, rinsing plates and getting everything ready to take into the house. “Besides, the last thing I want to be doing is cleaning the kitchen once everyone leaves.” She said suggestively. “Mmm. Really now?” I asked, walking closer and pulling her into my arms. “Maybe we can sneak off into the laundry room for a quickie.” I joked, whispering in her ear before kissing her neck. “Don’t tempt me, Brian.” She whispered, “The only problem is that our guests are nowhere near drunk enough for that to happen, so maybe you should give them more liquor.” I laughed loudly and kissed her lips, “I love you, Nick.” “Love you too, babe.” She smiled, “Now help me finish this so we can go hang out with our friends.” “You got it.” I said, smacking her butt when she turned around.

Once Nikki had the kitchen cleaned up, we continued drinking, until Johnny remembered that he brought fireworks. “Are you guys sure that’s a good idea?” Erin asked nervously as we were all standing in the cul-de-sac in front of my house, watching Johnny and Zack set out a few fireworks before lighting them and running away. I had my arms wrapped around Nikki’s waist and my chin resting on her shoulder, and we watched one by one as the two stooges set off every firework that Johnny had brought. As they were lighting their last one Nikki spoke, “Don’t forget you assholes are cleaning this shit up when you’re done.” Zack laughed loudly and turned to look at her, “Don’t worry mom, we’ll clean it up.” “Promise!” Johnny shouted from his spot in front of the firework. They backed up and once the firework went off, I heard Nikki gasp. “That one is beautiful.” She whispered. I smiled and kissed her cheek, squeezing her a little tighter. As the fireworks were shooting off, Matt walked a little bit away from the group and toward the fireworks, “Hang on a second. I gotta do something really quick.” “Matt what the fuck are you doing? Get your ass back!” Nikki laughed. Matt just looked at my girlfriend before turning to face her sister. “Dani. You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. You love me for who I am and you don’t give a shit about the fame. You eat junk food and play video games with me all night, but you also take pride in your job and everything else you do. You complete me in every single way, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Matt dropped to one knee and held out the engagement ring he had shown Nikki and I weeks before. I felt Nikki stiffen underneath my grip and her squeals of excitedment echoed throughout the neighborhood. “Oh my god!” Matt turned toward her and laughed before focusing on Dani again. “Danielle Grace Phillips, would you please do me the honor of being my wife?” I looked at Dani, who had tears flowing down her face and could only nod. “Yes?” Matt asked, slowly standing up. “Yes.” Dani whispered, pulling him to her and kissing him. “YES!” Nikki shouted, as we all cheered and laughed. One by one we congratulated the happy couple, Nichole pulling her sister into a huge hug, “I am so happy for you! I can’t wait to plan your bachelorette party!” Dani laughed and squeeze her sister, “I’m gonna need some help wedding planning too!” My girlfriend pulled away and looked into her sister’s eyes, “You know you don’t even have to ask.” Before pulling her back into a hug. I quickly hugged Matt, patting him on the back, “Congrats man. The suspense was killing Nick.” The taller man laughed loudly, “I figured it was. I brought it with me tonight hoping there would be a good moment for it. I figured now was as good as any other moment.“ I opened my mouth to say something, but was caught off guard when Nichole pulled Matt into a huge hug, “Now you’ll never be able to get rid of me!” She joked, squeezing him tightly. “I’m happy for you, Matt. Congratulations, future brother in law.” Matt looked at me and smiled before squeezing his future sister in law tightly and replying, “Thank you, future sister in law. You’ll be my favorite, I can already tell.” Nikki laughed loudly before releasing him from the hug, “I’m going to be your only sister in law, you big dork.” “Who knows, Amy might bring a girl home one day.” He joked while my girlfriend rolled her eyes.

We eventually made it back into the backyard, after Nikki made sure Zack and Johnny cleaned their mess up. One by one, everyone started leaving, until it was just Nikki and I in our backyard, sitting on an outdoor couch enjoying the silence. “What a night.” Nick sighed, laying her head on my shoulder. “I’m beat.” “It was a good night.” I said, putting my arm across her shoulders and pulling her close. “Now you don’t have to keep any more secrets.” “God it was killing me. I am the worst and keeping shit from Dani.” She laughed. “But I did it, and I'm glad I did. She definitely wasn’t expecting that.” I laughed and nodded, taking a sip of my beer. “Babe. Don’t think you have to propose to me right away or anything. There’s no rush. I’m not going anywhere.” She said, lifting her head up and looking me in the eye. I looked down at her and nodded, “I know. We just moved in together. We’ve got a while.” “Well I mean don’t make me wait ten years or something ridiculous like that.” She joked, making me laugh. “No, in ten years I’ll be too old for babies.” I chuckled before kissing her deeply. “I love you.” Nikki smile brightly before standing up and pulling on my arm. “Come on, boyfriend.” She said seductively, “Let’s sneak into the laundry room for a quickie.” I laughed loudly and stood up from the couch, following my girlfriend into the house for what would definitely not be a quickie.

Notes